How This West End Home Got its Groove Back
A symphony of sustainable, style-elevating and sound-friendly materials hit all the right chords
When Jeremy Mandel purchased a semi-detached Victorian just a stone’s throw from Ossington Avenue, both the house and his life were going to look quite differently by the time the renovation reached its turnkey transformation. “He bought the property two doors down from where he was renting at the time,” remembers Architect Luc Johnston, co-partner of architecture and design firm Lloydlondon Architects. While the front exterior still boasted beautiful brickwork and arches that framed the windows, “inside, the house was in pretty rough shape and there were very few original trims or details remaining in the home when Jeremy acquired it,” adds firm co-partner, Nancy Chao.
At some point in the ‘40s or ‘50s, Johnston surmised the house had undergone some sort of a renovation as it was split into two units, evidenced by an old kitchen and gas hookups on the second floor. “Other than some ground floor work done probably in the ‘80s, this turn-of-the-century home hadn’t been touched in a long time.”
A total overhaul of all four levels was in order to give this classic 2,100-square-foot Beaconsfield neighbourhood gem a 21st century, modern update to suit the lifestyle of Mandel, a software development engineer, whose DJing past meant carving out a music studio in its new configuration.
With standard application permits approved and design plans finalized, the massive renovation kicked off in March 2019 and over the course of a 15-month timeline, a pandemic dragged on and unexpectedly during mid-construction, Mandel went from single life to coupledom.
“Shorey brought a lot of life to the project,” says Johnston. Fortunately, the new couple’s design aesthetic meshed well and once the demolition dust settled and the new open plan layout of the design started to take shape, “She was able to collaborate with Jeremy through thoughtful styling and furnishing choices throughout the West End home,” points out Chao.
Before the teacups are put in their place though, a narrow semi Victorian–notorious for being dark and its choppy layout–meant high on the client’s wish list was bringing in the light and optimizing the efficiency of the space. “We transformed the home’s layout by removing the small enclosed rooms typical of Victorian entrances, and created an open-concept ground floor that maximizes natural light throughout. This redesign shifted the centre of the home by flanking activities around the kitchen rather than keeping it at the back of the house,” says Chao.
Working alongside the preferences of the homeowners for a clean, bright aesthetic which would act as a backdrop for their artwork and plants, Chao and Johnston devised innovative ways of creating the most impactful design on a budget. “There was a lot of talk about economizing the kitchen” says Johnston “so we decided to use high-pressure laminate (which is used in institutions, durable and super easy to clean) with white oak,” says Johnston.
“We created this raw style taking commonplace materials and made something special.” In the kitchen, standard 1×1 hollow steel sections were used to create a trellis-like armature of wood cabinets, which allowed for shelving and niches to display cookbooks, glassware, plants and speakers. “This steel framework also allowed for openings in the lower cabinets so the small kitchen doesn’t feel closed off to the adjacent room,” says Chao.
The second floor layout eliminated the third bedroom and introduced a large peaceful, spa-like bathroom in between the enlarged main bedroom and the guest room, now used as the homeowners’ office.
“I love the principal bathroom,” says homeowner Mandel. “It’s such a calm and serene place to start and end the day. Something about the light in the loft and the fact that it’s such an open space makes it a favourite.”
“We added transom windows over the doors as a kind of nod to Victorian style,” declares Johnston. Not ones to recreate the style of bygone eras, they seek to reinvent and modernize them while paying attention to the architectural details. For instance, “There is a baseboard reveal between the drywall and baseboard that returns and wraps around the door frame,” points out Chao. “It is very subtle and continuous throughout the house, almost like a little line you’re drawing. It takes a little more work, however, it elevates something very basic like drywall.”
The third floor is currently used as a gym or a place to entertain although it is future-proofed for a primary bedroom, with all the plumbing ready to prepare an ensuite. Crowned by a strategically placed skylight above the stairs with a sculpted ceiling aperture, the abundance of daylight cascades down to the ground floor.
Originally Mandel’s vision was to place his music studio on the third floor, however, since it is adjacent to his neighbour’s principal bedroom and he works on music at night, it was moved to the basement, “It is much easier to control the sound transfer in the basement by using extra special insulation, acoustic wall and ceiling assemblies to help dampen the sound to his neighbours,” says Johnston. A three-piece bathroom and laundry room complete the melodious lower level.
Throughout the home, the spatial progression flows effortlessly from public to private spaces as you move towards the back of the house, which now dons large new window openings across all three levels of the West End home, connecting every floor with an abundance of light while extending the space to the outdoors on two levels. On the ground floor, a cedar deck was built over a concrete pad, adding custom built-in benches and a secondary lounge area arranged around a gas fire pit, perfect for social gatherings with friends and family. The third-floor windows access a refreshed rooftop deck which gets sunlight most of the day. This dramatic increase of light greatly reduced the dependency on artificial lighting while creating an environment where indoor plants can thrive.
Overall, this massive transformation brings the height of luminosity, functionality and tranquility to this west-end abode; primed for a bright future ahead as the homeowners busily plan their upcoming nuptials.
